USN-5018-1: Linux kernel vulnerabilities

20 July 2021

Several security issues were fixed in the Linux kernel.

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Releases

Packages

  • linux - Linux kernel
  • linux-aws - Linux kernel for Amazon Web Services (AWS) systems
  • linux-aws-hwe - Linux kernel for Amazon Web Services (AWS-HWE) systems
  • linux-azure - Linux kernel for Microsoft Azure Cloud systems
  • linux-azure-4.15 - Linux kernel for Microsoft Azure Cloud systems
  • linux-gcp - Linux kernel for Google Cloud Platform (GCP) systems
  • linux-gcp-4.15 - Linux kernel for Google Cloud Platform (GCP) systems
  • linux-hwe - Linux hardware enablement (HWE) kernel
  • linux-kvm - Linux kernel for cloud environments
  • linux-oracle - Linux kernel for Oracle Cloud systems
  • linux-raspi2 - Linux kernel for Raspberry Pi (V8) systems
  • linux-snapdragon - Linux kernel for Qualcomm Snapdragon processors

Details

It was discovered that the virtual file system implementation in the Linux
kernel contained an unsigned to signed integer conversion error. A local
attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or
execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2021-33909)

Piotr Krysiuk discovered that the eBPF implementation in the Linux kernel
did not properly enforce limits for pointer operations. A local attacker
could use this to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly
execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2021-33200)

Mathy Vanhoef discovered that the Linux kernel’s WiFi implementation did
not properly clear received fragments from memory in some situations. A
physically proximate attacker could possibly use this issue to inject
packets or expose sensitive information. (CVE-2020-24586)

Mathy Vanhoef discovered that the Linux kernel’s WiFi implementation
incorrectly handled encrypted fragments. A physically proximate attacker
could possibly use this issue to decrypt fragments. (CVE-2020-24587)

Mathy Vanhoef discovered that the Linux kernel’s WiFi implementation
incorrectly handled EAPOL frames from unauthenticated senders. A physically
proximate attacker could inject malicious packets to cause a denial of
service (system crash). (CVE-2020-26139)

Mathy Vanhoef discovered that the Linux kernel’s WiFi implementation could
reassemble mixed encrypted and plaintext fragments. A physically proximate
attacker could possibly use this issue to inject packets or exfiltrate
selected fragments. (CVE-2020-26147)

It was discovered that the bluetooth subsystem in the Linux kernel did not
properly perform access control. An authenticated attacker could possibly
use this to expose sensitive information. (CVE-2020-26558, CVE-2021-0129)

Or Cohen and Nadav Markus discovered a use-after-free vulnerability in the
nfc implementation in the Linux kernel. A privileged local attacker could
use this issue to cause a denial of service (system crash) or possibly
execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2021-23134)

Piotr Krysiuk discovered that the eBPF implementation in the Linux kernel
did not properly prevent speculative loads in certain situations. A local
attacker could use this to expose sensitive information (kernel memory).
(CVE-2021-31829)

It was discovered that a race condition in the kernel Bluetooth subsystem
could lead to use-after-free of slab objects. An attacker could use this
issue to possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2021-32399)

It was discovered that a use-after-free existed in the Bluetooth HCI driver
of the Linux kernel. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of
service (system crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2021-33034)

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Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.

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Update instructions

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu 18.04
Ubuntu 16.04
Ubuntu 14.04

After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make
all the necessary changes.

ATTENTION: Due to an unavoidable ABI change the kernel updates have
been given a new version number, which requires you to recompile and
reinstall all third party kernel modules you might have installed.
Unless you manually uninstalled the standard kernel metapackages
(e.g. linux-generic, linux-generic-lts-RELEASE, linux-virtual,
linux-powerpc), a standard system upgrade will automatically perform
this as well.

References

Related notices

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